Title:Rheumatologic Aspects of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Practical Resource for Physicians in Kuwait and the Gulf region as Recommended by the
Kuwait Association of Rheumatology
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Author(s): Fatemah Baron*, Heba Alhajeri, Fatemah Abutiban, Mona Almutairi, Adel Alawadhi, Ali Aldei, Adeeba Alherz, Yaser Ali, Saud Alsayegh, Ahmed Dehrab, Aqeel Ghanem, Eman Hajji, Saswan Hayat, Khulood Saleh, Ramia Shaikh-Alsooq, Hoda Tarakmah, Anwar Albasri, Ahmed Alenezi, Naser Alhadhood, Waleed Alkanderi, Ammar Almathkoori, Nora Almutairi, Ali Alturki, Amjad Alkadi and Hussain Behbahani
Affiliation:
- Rheumatology Unit, Al-Jahra Hospital, AlJahra, Kuwait
Keywords:
Infections, treatment, COVID-19, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, rheumatic disease, guideline, kuwait medical association, recommendation, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Abstract: The Kuwait Association of Rheumatology members met thrice in April 2020 to quickly
address and support local practitioners treating rheumatic disease in Kuwait and the Gulf region
during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because patients with rheumatic and
musculoskeletal disease (RMD) may need treatment modifications during the COVID-19 pandemic,
we voted online for the general guidance needed by local practitioners. In this review, we have
addressed patients' vulnerability with rheumatic disease and issues associated with their optimum
management. Our recommendations were based on the formulation of national/international guidelines
and expert consensus among KAR members in the context of the Kuwaiti healthcare system
for patients with RMD. The most recent reports from the World Health Organization, the Center
for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health-National Medical Library, and the
COVID-19 educational website of the United Kingdom National Health Service have been incorporated.
We discuss the management of RMD in various clinical scenarios: screening protocols in an
infusion clinic, medication protocols for stable patients, and care for patients with suspected or confirmed
COVID infection and whether they are stable, in a disease flare or newly diagnosed. Further,
we outline the conditions for the hospital admission. This guidance is for the specialist and
non-specialist readership and should be considered interim as the virus is relatively new, and we rely
on the experience and necessity more than evidence collection. The guidance presented should
be supplemented with recent scientific evidence wherever applicable.
